Thread: Sydney CBD

There are plenty of comments about the coffee at Mecca on King St, but their food is also pretty good. I had their breakfast roll this monring. Other than being more like a sandwich than a roll, it was great. A poached egg that was overcooked just enough to work in a roll/sandwich (i.e. not spill all over me), great tasting prosciutto and good ciabatta.

Incidentally my flat white this morning was very slightly on the cool side, and I don't like my coffee hot to start with, but on previous visits it's been fine.

Originally Posted by Jonathon

There are plenty of comments about the coffee at Mecca on King St, but their food is also pretty good. I had their breakfast roll this monring. Other than being more like a sandwich than a roll, it was great. A poached egg that was overcooked just enough to work in a roll/sandwich (i.e. not spill all over me), great tasting prosciutto and good ciabatta.

Incidentally my flat white this morning was very slightly on the cool side, and I don't like my coffee hot to start with, but on previous visits it's been fine.

Mecca in King St is pretty good (although it took me a while to find it the first time ) however the King St store is not open weekends.

"At $3.50 a cup, the coffee is a little pricey..."

Am assuming that's a small sized drink because I spend that or more every day for a medium.

Pity it's wrong side of CBD for me on my way into work, i'll see if i get get that side one lunchtime and give em a try.

On the price, it's interesting that Sydney CBD cafes are significantly cheaper than Melbourne CBD cafes.

Here in Melb it's really unusual to find a small coffee for less than $3.50 and 3.60-3.80 is becoming the norm. But on my frequent trips to Sydney I usually pay $3.00-3.20 and even $2.80 at one place last week.

The costs certainly aren't cheaper in Sydney, and I'm not sure it's greater competition, as there are at least as many cafes in Melb CBD?

As a general rule I pay around $3.50 for what varyingly us called a medium or large flat white. Recently some have trended up to $3.70 or even $3.80 but theres sufficient competition to make them the exception and avoidable. Yes the smaller ones are typically around $3.00-$3.20.

Many cafes? huge amounts... by way of example the three towers in Darling Darling Park (201 Sussex street) have a hefty 7 coffee outlets/cafes. And if I don't like any of those (or can be bothered to go else where...) there's another 4-5 available within a block.

As a guestimate I'd say there's a coffee outlet in every significant building and more unattached. I recon I pass at least 20 during my walk from Wynyard to Darling park and there are plenty not apparent as I don't enter the buildings.

Originally Posted by AtomicGrog

I pass at least 20 during my walk from Wynyard to Darling park and there are plenty not apparent as I don't enter the buildings.

If that was my walk I'd stay on Clarence St and pop into Vella Nero every morning. Having just discovered it this week, I now find myself booking meetings with clients there, even though my office is right beside Wynyard.

Vella Nero is my usual haunt during the week. During peak they will serve you in under 5 minutes, always found a table, prices are good with food options as well (which I haven't tried). All the staff their write their favourite coffee on the blackboard. Coffee is consistent IMO. Menu below

Commercial link removed per the http://coffeesnobs.com.au/general-ne...icy-rules.html

The Brewery is a great little cafe on Erskine St, between Kent and Sussex.

Serving Allpress through a 3 group linea and 3 mazzers, one blend and two SOs, each time I've been there I've had a very satisfactory coffee. Not stunning, but quite good.

This morning I had some toast and that was fantastic, they use bread from some bakery in Leichardt and the sourdough toast was perfect - chewy on the inside, crunchy on the outside, full of taste. Plus they know how to spread just the right amount of vegemite.

$5.80 for a flat white and great toast is pretty good value. Espresso on Sussex lane is a little cheaper, but while their coffee is similar quality, their toast isn't nearly as good.

I stopped in at Double Barrel Coffee Merchants the other morning on the way to a client. Apparently the only shop in Sydney serving Seven Seeds coffee. Churning it out on a LM Mistral. Couple of Robur E's to go along with it. Was good. 33 York Street.

Hi all

"Knights Coffee and Tea" at the end of the Devonshire Tunnel, the end furthest from Central Station.

I have been going to a newish place "Knights Coffee and Tea". It's run by Jake Knight who did a business degree from Uni of Technology, Sydney and just late last year opened up his first cafe. I went there in his first week when there was just himself and one other staff. There is just a few benches inside to sit at to drink-in, most hang around outside wait for their cappuccinos and flat whites. There are a couple of books to browse inside - "Faema Espresso" by Maltoni and "Espresso Coffee: The Science of Quality".

The first time I tried his place I ordered my espresso and watched his pour ... he ditched it down the sink, made an adjustment and made another. :-) Nice to see a barista that cares for espresso drinkers. It's excellent. Nice crema, nice profile. He uses a Campos blend. I could pickup the Ethiopian in the blend (just enough citrus and tang) but couldn't pickup that it had also some PNG in it and something else that I have forgotten. (Mecca is nearby but their blend is too lemony for an espresso IMHO, though is it made well.)

Now after a few months Jake has 3 other staff and I counted heads waiting outside for their coffee; at 9.30 its usually about 25 to 30 people outside chatting in groups while their coffee is done and its still busy at 11.00 am. Clearly the milk based coffees are also above average and they can taste it.

His range of cakes and small yummies is limited, but there is a German bakery just up along the tunnel so you might want to buy something from there first. I work at the UTS just a few minutes away so have been going to Knights from a few to several times a week.

Mike

Originally Posted by SimonC

I stopped in at Double Barrel Coffee Merchants the other morning on the way to a client. Apparently the only shop in Sydney serving Seven Seeds coffee. Churning it out on a LM Mistral. Couple of Robur E's to go along with it. Was good. 33 York Street.

I found this place by accident looking for a quick coffee before getting on the train at Wynyard. Cappuccino was rich and was nice to have my cup while watching all the buses fly past.

Found a great place the other day now that we've moved offices into the City. It's called Marlowe's Way. Corner Tank Stream Way And Bridge Lane. They use their own blend called Bankistan (due to the high number of banks in the area) which is roasted by Little Marionette. Three group LM Linea and a few Roburs. What I like a lot is that they give you double-shot ristrettos by default, so a cap is $3.50. I wish more cafes would do this. Coffee is really good, nice brown sugar, caramel taste with hints of nuts.

Ok, so I'm going to Paddys market Sydney CBD today.
Where can I get a coffee? Close by walking distance.
Thanks Craig.

Looks like I am a day late, but there is a Mecca just up from Paddy's Market on Harris St; that would be my best recommendation.

i've just moved offices and am now situated close to galleries victoria and piccadilly shopping centre.

i know of workshop espresso, but are there any others that people would recommend in the area?

I like Vella Nero in Clarence St, got more seating too if you like to sit in.

Originally Posted by Angusw15

I like Vella Nero in Clarence St, got more seating too if you like to sit in.

I second the Vella Nero suggestion... very good.

I stopped by Cabrito Coffee Traders in Circular Quay before work this week. Nice little cafe was pretty busy but service was good and didn't have to wait too long. More importantly my latte was very good. I'd say along with Mecca II it's one of the best in the area.

Has anyone mentioned Marlowe's Way ? My favourite coffee in the Northern end of the cbd ....tiny little place in Bulletin place...behind the Establishment

re: Cabrito's...haven't heard of that place...good to know as I am between bus trips nearby often. I've been hanging out for a good place near the Quay

Thanks for the Mecca recommendation in King St, was in town for work and stopped for a coffee. Great!

Originally Posted by grapsta

Has anyone mentioned Marlowe's Way ? My favourite coffee in the Northern end of the cbd ....tiny little place in Bulletin place...behind the Establishment

Marlowe's Way is very good although their Bankistan blend (roasted by Little Marionette) seems to have had a significant change to bean mix. It used to be the biggest, most viscous base note doppio ristretto I could find in the city... now it's a much brighter, more acidic blend (too acidic for me at the moment).

Originally Posted by nabsie

Thanks for the Mecca recommendation in King St, was in town for work and stopped for a coffee. Great!

I think that Mecca is great for coffees with at least some amount of milk... I tend to order piccolos from them. However I find their espresso/ristretto shots a little too bright for my liking.

I usually drink an 8oz double flat white. Have to agree brighter than what I preference but was still a nice coffee. Overall enjoyable.

Hi all

I also think Mecca's blend is too bright for espresso. It has a bright citrus / lemony which would go well with milk (> 95% of customers) but is too citrus as espresso.

Mike

Really glad to hear these comments... I started feeling a bit paranoid about my views on espresso acidity! The brightest double espresso I've had recently was at Reuben Hills... unbearable!

I had a double espresso yesterday from Mecca and I'd agree.

For a start it was big, maybe 75mls, it was served in a very large cup for an espresso, given they do have 'normal' espresso cups there. (It was a very small flat white-style cup)

It definitely wasn't bad - it was perfectly drinkable, but too bright is a good way of describing it, a long way off a god shot. It was fairly balanced, just lacked the wow factor that a great espresso has.

I'll be sticking to their flat white next time.

And $3.90 is a little excessive in Sydney CBD for a double espresso.

ah...that might explain why Reuben Hills and Marlowes WAy are 2 of my current favourites...I guess I like bright / acidic notes

Pavel & Co is a new cafe on Kent St, across the road from Westpac. Their coffee is fine, from memory they use Gabriel beans. But for me the main draw card is their food, specifically their pork belly breakfast burger.

Yes that's right, a pork belly burger for breakfast! Ok maybe it's not what you imagine at 7am, but I had one as a bit of a second breakfast the other day at about 9:30am and it's phenomenal. It's served on a soft bun with a runny fried egg and hoisin sauce.

Just had a week in Sydney. Loved the guys at Machiatto Cnr Pitt & Liverpool sts. Great coffee - they roast their own on the premises. Had a great chat about roasting and brewing and the food was great too!

New place in the Circular Quay Train Station building opposite Pitt St called Ground Central is decent ....and open weekends till 5pm. Single Origin beans.

Knight's Coffee & Tea Co, underneath NSW TAFE is quite good. Both there and Mecca Ultimo are the best i have found in that Ultimo / Haymarket area.

Hi all

I go to Knights every day and get a double ristretto. Their coffee is less citrusy than Meccas and more suited to espresso. Right next door is a lebanese place that has baklava for $2
(See my post on this page 24th March 2013 when Knights had just started. They are still excellent.)

Mike

My go to now is Double Barrel on York St, down the Wynyard end of town. It's one of the few places in this vicinity that serves palatable long blacks, coffee that is roasted skilfully and not like drinking vinegar.

+1 for Mecca in King St.
Happen to be in Sydney for work and my office is quite close.
Wandered up for a flat white today - most enjoyable.

+1 more for Mecca - it's been a long time between drinks but I've been in Sydney for work a bit and they're still every bit as reliable as I remember.

The office I'm based on is in the north-east of the CBD and I haven't had as much luck around there (tend to get taxi straight from airport to office, 15 min for lunch then taxi back to airport - living the dream...). Is Mecca II still around? Doesn't seem to be on Google Maps or Beanhunter...

Best I've found within 5 min walk is Marlow's Way, while good the house blend is a little 'soft' flavourwise for my liking; doesn't really cut through through milk even as a 6oz.

Reuben Hills, Albion St (Surry Hills, but on the edge of the CBD). Excellent espresso and milk-based drinks. A bit hipsterish, but staff are friendly, polite and efficient.

Originally Posted by Barry O'Speedwagon

Reuben Hills, Albion St (Surry Hills, but on the edge of the CBD). Excellent espresso and milk-based drinks. A bit hipsterish, but staff are friendly, polite and efficient.

They also have a branch in the foyer of 5 Martin Place.